Tudor heritage project ‘at risk’ after £1m of National Highways funding withheld

CONCEPT: A drawing of the proposed entrance to the South Blockhouse site. Image by Hull City Council / The Manser Practice

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Plans to create a new visitor attraction on the site of a nationally significant scheduled ancient monument in Hull are “at risk” after National Highways declined to provide £1m previously allocated to the project, an MP has said.

The future of the South Blockhouse project – which was due to open last year and was to form part of the Hull Maritime heritage trail – is now uncertain, although Hull City Council said it remains committed to delivering it and will now seek alternative sources of funding.

Hull East MP Karl Turner has written to National Highways to express his “deep disappointment” at the funding decision and to seek an explanation.

It follows National Highways’ announcement in December that the completion date for its £355m overhaul of the A63 at Castle Street – the biggest infrastructure project in Hull’s history – had been put back a year due to ground conditions “that could not have been anticipated before the scheme began”.

The road scheme was initially due for completion this spring.

Mr Turner said of the Blockhouse scheme: “This decision comes just weeks after the announcement that the A63 Castle Street project will be delayed by another year to spring 2026 and it is therefore hugely disappointing for National Highways to pull the funding.

TUDOR DEFENCE: A drawing of how the South Blockhouse may have looked

“The South Blockhouse is a site of immense cultural and historical importance. Its preservation and development as a visitor attraction would provide invaluable insights into our nation’s maritime heritage and fortifications. This project is crucial for educating future generations and celebrating Hull’s unique contribution to British history.”

The MP added in his letter: “Is the South Blockhouse now yet another example of National Highways failing the people of Hull?”

Located on the east bank of the River Hull, the South Blockhouse is a scheduled ancient monument of both national and local importance with a rare cloverleaf design.

Its construction was ordered by Henry VIII in 1541 to support military campaigns and to protect Hull as a vital port from internal and external threats, working as one element in a larger scheme of then state-of-the art defences on the east side of the river. Its remains had lain buried since the middle of the nineteenth century.

In 2022, volunteers spent more than 4,000 hours removing tons of earth, brick, and stone to reveal the “astounding remains” of the Tudor defence works in what was the largest community archaeology excavation in Hull for 25 years.

In February last year, the council was awarded £250,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to expand community engagement around the South Blockhouse project.

DIG: Volunteers excavating the site in 2022

Council leader Mike Ross said: “The South Blockhouse is a key part of our local heritage and we remain committed to the preservation and future of this historically significant site.

“Hull City Council is extremely disappointed by the decision by National Highways to withdraw the £1m allocation for the South Blockhouse project. We will continue to explore all possible funding opportunities to ensure the project moves forward, including through on-going conversations with National Highways.

“Our focus remains on protecting and preserving this important site for future generations and promoting it as a cultural and educational resource.

“The council would like to thank all those who have supported this initiative so far and remain committed to seeing it through to completion.”

National Highways has previously provided two sets of funding for the South Blockhouse project, firstly for initial archaeological works. These works informed a feasibility study, supported by the second set of funding, into options for creating a visitor attraction as well as preserving the monument.

The agency has also funded the restoration of Spurn Lightship, a key element of the Hull Maritime project.

Tim Gamon, regional delivery director at National Highways, said: “National Highways is committed to investing in improvements in Hull, such as the A63 Castle Street project which will reduce congestion, and several other projects have been funded in the city during the last few years.

“While we had previously supported the initial stages of the South Blockhouse Project, we were unable to progress with further funding.”